It is with great excitement that FIRM announces our new partnership with the Central Valley Children Services Network (CSN) to save what will now be called the CSN-FIRM Preschool. FIRM has been struggling to keep the preschool open and could not sustain the $5,000 monthly deficit any longer. Upon seeking God in prayer, He connected FIRM with Lupe Jaime from CSN who thought that they might be able to partner with the preschool to essentially change from a private-pay preschool to a state funded preschool. Lupe applied to the state for funding and we received word in September that the funding was approved!
With this change, not only will FIRM be able to continue to operate the preschool, but also those families that qualify for the 24 available slots will be able to enroll their children for no cost or for a minimal family fee. This partnership will erase the monthly deficit to operate the preschool and will allow for more funds to be available for other FIRM programs. FIRM will still oversee basic operations of the preschool, retain the staffing and do the outreach/recruitment of families. We are pleased to once again offer a no-cost option for preschool to the communities that we serve. Zachary Darrah, Executive Director of FIRM says, “I am pleased to announce our new partnership with CSN. I have been working closely with Gayle Duffy (CSN Director) and Lupe Jaime (CSN Deputy Director) through this process and am confident that CSN is an expert in this field. Without CSN’s help, we would have had to close the preschool in the very near future due to budgetary challenges. We thank God for His provision and look forward to this new chapter of the CSN-FIRM Preschool!”
We are still recruiting families to fill the slots, but they are filling quickly! If you have children that are 3 years-5 years old (just before Kindergarten) and you are working, looking for a job or are in school, you may qualify! Children can be at the preschool from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM and are fed two healthy meals and a snack. Please contact May Yang at the FIRM office immediately at 487-1500 to find out how to begin the enrollment process.